314 Comments

Joyce,

Outmaneuvered is polite for meet the new FOX Latina brand. There are low information voters of all languages and ethnicities. Fascism couldn’t exist without low information voters. I’m hopeful that we will all vote and bring friends to vote defending democracy one vote at a time. We are in this together.

Expand full comment
Nov 15, 2023Liked by Joyce Vance

And I understand there are hundreds if not more, Spanish speaking radio stations across the country that have been taken over by right wing propagandists. Also terrifying. We have much work ahead of us.

Expand full comment
Nov 15, 2023·edited Nov 17, 2023

Some of us have been trying for literally a DECADE now to get Democratic establishment to pay more attention to Latino voters but our pleas have so far fallen on deaf ears

A lot of Latino immigrants come from countries where their leadership carries the moniker "socialist" but with the extent of their corruption in government, they behave a lot like Confederate Republicans behave here

And they believe in money 💰

And slicksters like Kushner take advantage of the confusion

Democratic leadership are a decade late in listening to those in their base who really understand this

Expand full comment

No, they didn't "allow" this to happen. Outreach to the Hispanic communities is very challenging here in the South, despite significant attempts to engage. I do worry that they vote against their own interests, but that seems common these days.

Expand full comment

Voting against one's own best interests has been common for at least the last 43 years. That's how Reagan was elected. Low info voters get distracted by the bullsh*t culture wars. In his book, J.D. Vance even acknowledged that lower income whites had more in common with lower income folks of other races than with white politicians promoting culture wars. The white politicians are often wealthy in their own right, but are supported by dark money libertarian networks.

The Fairness Doctrine needs to return for ALL forms of media--broadcast, cable, social media platforms, digital, print, whatever ways people communicate. The robber barons have created channels like Fox that rake in money as they spout lies and harm the country. Do you think that Rupert Murdoch cares one lick for democracy or ordinary people? He just wants their money.

Expand full comment

I sadly agree. Dems allowed this to happen.

Expand full comment

No Dems did not "Allow" this to happen.

Expand full comment

Yes, they did. Democrats abandoned a 50 state strategy, and the value of a great ground game (retail politics). For this group, along with others, Democrats have shown up every 4 years, made promises, expected that to be enough, and disappeared for another 4 years.

Expand full comment

Bingo. Florida R's has worked this angle to the Cuban American population for decades.

Expand full comment

But they are comfortable with “strong men,” and think democracy weakens a country.

Reagan said decades ago that Republicans were Republicans, they just didn’t know it yet.

Expand full comment

Thats scary. It seems counter intuitive that the Latino community would get behind Rs and Conservative identity politics. Some words by LBJ make it a lot more understandable why working class/Middle Class Latino's can be influenced. The quote is more universal than we give it credit to. Its about division and giving a group a reason and a why to look down on another group.

“If you can convince the lowest white man he's better than the best colored man, he won't notice you're picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he'll empty his pockets for you.”

― Lyndon B. Johnson

Expand full comment

You are right Ted. That quote is more universal, and certainly explains how so many are influenced.

Expand full comment

That’s really interesting about the printing press. And now that communication technology has grown exponentially both in speed and volume reached, so have the lies, conspiracy theories and hate that divides.

Expand full comment

Just sucks when the common denominator in Republican strategy is hate and division. Someone to hate is another American. This should be antithetical to our founding principles of equality. It repeats itself whenever new communication technology comes to market. Internet, TV, Radio, Newspaper, printing press. I heard Tim Snyder say that it was the printing press that contributed to the most wars in Europe's history.

Expand full comment

You have to be impressed. And terrified. He calls Mexicans rapists and thieves and that their government is letting terrorists though the border, cages Hispanic children and wants to deport even legal aliens (birthright). Trump goes to Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, throws paper towels and gets chided by their Governor for not supplying aid. Trump gets Cuban votes, because they somehow think Biden is Socialist and it reminds them of Castro, not the strongman-to-be Trump. He goes after Venezuelans who want asylum after blaming their country for fake voting in the US. And with all that, like Ted Cruz did after Trump severely denigrated Cruz’s family during the election, they’re coming on bended knee to pledge fealty. Trump DESPISES Hispanics, almost as much as Blacks. How is any amount of money worth what Univision is doing?

Expand full comment

Univision is owned by Televisa, whose owner/CEO is a Mexican far right "conservative."

Expand full comment

Nice piece of intimation. Thanks.

Expand full comment

That’s information.

Expand full comment
Nov 15, 2023·edited Nov 15, 2023

It's likely that the powers that be in the parent companies believe that if they cozy up to Defendant Trump, they will be spared when he implements full-on fascism - if elected. They will not be spared. Their strategy, though seriously flawed, makes sense, because the regime will need some of them to keep "their people" in line. The same is true of other groups the defendant has attacked. He will use and discard as many of them as he needs to accomplish his goals. We are, indeed, all in this together, and I'm most grateful for Joyce, Barb McQuade, Andrew Weissmann and others who are working tirelessly to ensure that we are informed about just how close we are to being under the thumb of an authoritarian regime.

Expand full comment

I think Latinos like macho men.

Expand full comment

And apparently can't detect obvious fake macho?

Expand full comment

😁

Expand full comment

There are many varieties of "worthwhile"......alas.

Expand full comment
Nov 15, 2023Liked by Joyce Vance

This is the most depressing thing I’ve read today.

Expand full comment
author

And that's saying a lot right now!

Expand full comment
Nov 15, 2023·edited Nov 15, 2023

Why is Jared cozying up to daddy-in-law? I thought he and Ivanka were on the outs with Donald. Maybe Jared wants to go to Thanksgiving dinner, who knows. The Mexican people are not stupid and they know for sure that they will be on Donald’s list. They can have their weak soft ball, journalist questions but the Mexican people’s memories are not that short. We’ve been through a lot and have had some bad news, but this is such a transparent buy-off that the Mexican people are going to see straight through it💙 Trump is desperate if he’s reaching to this level. He’s not going to win.

Expand full comment

Cheer up you two, while Joe and Kamala are out here in the west, Mike is in DC and has everything under control right?

Expand full comment

You think? Even if the Senate passes Johnson’s reprieve for a govt shutdown, we will continue to agonize over this type response again and again. Too much stress.

Expand full comment

😆

Expand full comment

Yes pretty bad.

Expand full comment

Puh-leez TuTone ! The Mexican people are not stupid and their memories are not that short.

This is a desperate play on Trump’s part. Joyce needs to have a simul translator in Spanish on the same station. Telling the truth.

Expand full comment

You tell that directly to Joyce, not me. And schmooz is always at play here. We all know that.

Expand full comment

TuTone,

Schmooz?

Expand full comment

Schmooze in regard to Jared who tries to create a pretty picture of promises as he lies his way to get what he wants.

Expand full comment

Ah ha TuTone! You are brilliant and observant. I just thought he wanted to cozy up to get an invite to Thanksgiving dinner:) But he wants something, that’s for sure, or he wouldn’t be schmoozing💙

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

Sorry Tutone. My auto correct changes it even when I don’t capitalize the second T.

Expand full comment

The buddy in the inside is hard to beat.

Perhaps some money or other considerations are also involved.

Promises to buy ads later or business loans maybe.

Expand full comment

Kushner's family has money to spare. I'm sure some of it changed hands.

After reading this, and considering the love and devotion for Trump from people who should know better, I keep asking myself: What's going to happen a year from now? How will we (literally) survive if Trump is re-elected?

It's a scary thought, but one that we HAVE to take seriously.

Expand full comment

The US and democracy is done for our lifetimes if he wins next year.

Expand full comment

Who knows what. Jared did a number on Univision for sure one way or the other. He is as dangerous as 45.

Expand full comment

Jared is fueled by the Saudis. If he had money to spare, why would he have needed that $2 billion? Of course, in Kushner's case, money to spare might be a relative term. Remember Jared's father is a convicted felon and disbarred lawyer. He blackmailed his brother-in-law. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Expand full comment
Nov 15, 2023Liked by Joyce Vance

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Joyce. It is indeed alarming.

Expand full comment

No one has out maneuvered the Democrats. People all over the world know Trump is a liar and more and more people are moving on from his nonsense. Only in America does the news come with so much commentary. People are smarter than our news media gives them credit for.

Expand full comment

I agree that the rest of the world sees right through him. It’s the American voters that are being manipulated and filled with fear. When people vote from emotion and not logic, we get dictatorship. And that is their goal. I suggest not to underestimate the power of the media’s influence. Unfortunately, the lack of civics education in America has helped lead us to this place and Americans turn to these commentators to do their thinking for them. Aka Propaganda.

Expand full comment

Let’s hope you are right, RSR

Expand full comment

Hi, John Cooper, I agree 100% with RSR: the Mexican people do not have short memories, and they’re not stupid. Trump is simply desperate. And Jarod had a connection and some money to throw toward his connection. That does not automatically mean votes and erase Trump’s cruel behavior to the Mexico, Latin America. .

Expand full comment

Your response offers the best approach we can embrace. Let’s get out there, continue messaging our strong support for good governance and get out the vote. Thanks!

Expand full comment

I so hope you are right!

Expand full comment

Cathy 98280 - RSR is right. 100%. Mexican people do not have that short of a memory and they are not stupid. Trump is desperate. I don’t think he has enough money to buy off the Mexican people after the cruel and despicable way he treated them when he separated, children and families, threw them under the bus at the border, and behave, as the despot he wants to be. They do NOT trust him. And well they should not.

Expand full comment

I agree and I also think not enough is made of this fact. Unfortunately, the US form of politics lends itself to the potential of minority rule, and rampant corruption. Beyond elected officials taking an oath of office, they are not guided by any enforced rules of ethics. One blatant example is Trump who is twice impeached and under four indictments and remains the presumptive nominee of one of two major political parties. At the very least, there should be some rule or law that bars people from running for president while under indictment. It's insane!

Expand full comment

I'm not sure that's the solution, if I'm understanding the proposal correctly. All the GOP (just as an example) would need to do is coordinate w/friendly DAs to have them move "their" grand juries toward issuing indictments to strong Democratic Party candidates and...

Btw, the only - only - way this would affect tfg would be through amendment of the US Constitution. The current requirements enunciated therein supersede any other law or regulation that might obtain.

Expand full comment

Brava RSR, hundred percent. The Mexican people are not stupid and their memories are not that short. Jared put some money out and the suckers bought it. Trump is very desperate right now.

Expand full comment

I am an activist here in Orange County, CA. I ask for Hispanic turfs when I canvass. In my own door knocking, I have learned that this minority group was largely ignored until 2016. They don’t watch Fox or CNN so they’re very uninformed as to political points. The turnout here was the 2nd lowest of all groups, like around 20% in the mid-term general. A little higher in a Presidential. There are more Democrats than Republicans even here, but they don’t vote true to Party when they do vote.

A very in-play congressional district (CA45) has a large Hispanic group and had voted Dem in 2016 and 2018. When we lost it in 2020, I researched FEC spending by the Republican candidate. I was expecting to find spending on Telemundo and Spanish publications. I did find a little. More importantly, that candidate (Michelle Steel) had spent $1.2M on a company called Targeted Victory.

Targeted Victory does those little 1” ads everywhere you go on your phone. It doesn’t have to be true. “Democrats are Communists” “Democrats abort full term babies”. Then I saw an article where Dems are losing Hispanic voted nationwide. Florida and Texas included. So I reseated Targeted Victory nationwide. Sure enough, in 2020, Republicans spent $120M nationwide. It’s very concerning.

I also know the younger generations are more informed and not as easy to pick up that way. I observe them helping with the discussion when I canvass and commonly more liberal and better informed.

Two more points: a lot of them do not think additional Hispanics should come ILLEGALLY. That’s why when Republicans call them all illegal, it really matters. Those seeking asylum legally are not. We must educate them. Another issue: the first (and some of the 2nd) generations are not pro-choice. Especially in Texas. They are Catholic. I don’t talk about those issues when I canvass. I talk about helping people: jobs, health benefits, educational opportunities. But the younger ones are very similar to other Democrats.

Expand full comment

Exceptional research and info that needs to be heard and understood by the Democrats ASAP.

Thank you.

Expand full comment

Nice report Deborah Lima and I think your research and conclusions are accurate. I would like to point out the amount of money spent to influence voting. Democrats are at a disadvantage because many wealthy people and large companies support the Republicans. The wealthy will spend billions to influence elections hoping to save 100's of billions in lower taxes and reduced regulations which translate into higher profits, rising stock valuations and higher personal renumeration.

I wonder if your research also discovered that many Hispanics who are legal residents and eligible to vote, refuse to register to vote for fear that they may be targeted and either lose their residency or be deported. Republicans are notorious for fear mongering. Whenever possible, Republicans (the minority) try to level the playing field by suppressing voters likely to vote Democratic.

Expand full comment

When I canvass, we can see everyone in the household including unregistered, so I am prepared to help a person register when I’m comfortable doing that. But in this community, I can’t be sure if they’re eligible to vote. The registration process is thorough and, if the registrar can’t verify citizenship through the DMV or the SSA, they make follow up contact. I don’t have access to a whole list.

But in the last couple of years, registration is fixing itself here because the DMV allows you to check a box when you get your Drivers License. Kids are using it by the thousands. When they turn 18, a record goes over to the county registrar and you start getting your ballot in the mail. Here, everyone can vote by mail.

Expand full comment

Where are the Democrats?? What are they waiting for?? This is an ‘all hands on deck’ crisis of democracy!

Expand full comment

One place they were was placing a significant ad buy on Univision to counter the Trump interview. That's what is so scary about this.

Expand full comment

We are still a year out. Alot can & will happen. D's must motivate & even excite different groups of Voters for Prez & down Ticket state & local needs fior democracy & Women's Health.

It maybe heresy now but, consider Kentucky's 2nd Term Governor, Beshear, Age 45, and a 5% Winner in a red state that went 28% for Trump in 2020. Also, consider Gretchen Whitmer; she has been there are more than survived.

There are many options to galvanize diverse voting blocks. I must repeat Women's. Health, the full spectrum of Women's health as the top issue. & to block male fascism. So put Cecile Richards in the Cabinet, a world class Administrator.

New politics folks, your local street to Pennsylvania Avenue.

Expand full comment

Brava Bryan. The Mexican people are not stupid and their memories are not that short. They know full well that Trump has thrown them under the bus. They do not trust him. And we need to keep our focus with our sleeves rolled up working every minute to defeat this despot want to be.

Expand full comment

Where are you?

Expand full comment

They say Trump is not stupid, he is ignorant and lazy. But he is cunning and I fear we do not fear the GOP enough.

Expand full comment

Mary, this is a good observation. Moreover, it speaks to a view I have held for over a decade. Simply put, Republicans have, since Newt Gingrich or earlier, been playing by different rules. In fact, they have had a long game plan that has left us seeing way too many trifectas at the state level, a court press played by Mitch and the Federalist Society, etc. We must double our efforts and do some serious catch up. At this moment, the Univision interview is another example demonstrating that with Trump and the Republicans they abide by no rules, whatever works is fair game when you (Republicans) are unabashedly on track to take down democracy and constitutional law and order. Their game is to hold power at all costs.

Expand full comment

Trump is cunning: he's as cunning as Hitler, Mussolini, Putin, Xi and every other ruthless autocrat/authoritarian.

However, Trump has not operated as a free agent. Many people of extreme wealth back and support him and the Republican Party. The billionaires have virtually unlimited funds to game the system. They have enormous influence over politicians, especially those craven enough to sell out their constituents.

Expand full comment

Yes, and beware of the Heritage Foundation. They are preparing a nasty future for us and it doesn't have to be Trump.

Expand full comment
Nov 15, 2023·edited Nov 15, 2023

Hi Mary,

Donald Trump is as stupid as one can be if one is drinking 12 diet Cokes a day and frying one's brain with those non-food chemicals. But Steve Bannon is pretty much running the show with psychological warfare on his far right news station The War Room. We need to work hard. We will and we will defeat this despot.

Expand full comment

Enough.

What is the appeals court pissing around with the gag order for?

They are 100% complicit in supporting trumps destruction of this country.

They obviously are too arrogant and not smart enough to know he will put most of them in jail and ignore the that of a King - specifically MBS.

Oh, don’t believe me. Just research what Putin does and what MBS has done. MBS just hangs them. Michael Cohen said Trump will model his behavior as that of MBS. Also listen to James Comey describe to Jen Psaki what Trump will do to the DOJ and anyone who has crossed him,

Expand full comment

Yes, I think Trump and the Republican Party have collectively lost touch with reality. In fact, they have successfully created and alternate reality that millions of people have bought into.

I guess it is possible, but I believe that the vast majority of people will rise up in arms if necessary to crush the Republican terrorist organization. There are similarities in the Republican modus operandi with the Nazis but the dynamics of this country now vs Germany in the 1930s are entirely different. In short, the Republicans will not succeed in creating an authoritarian state. As far as democracy, I think we are a democracy in name only; we are certainly not operating as a representative democracy. We are very much a de facto plutocracy and have been for a long time. The wealthy collectively spend billions annually to shape the electorate's views of government and politics. There will be no meaningful changes to governing or restoring democracy until money is completely out of politics and governance. Hopefully, enough people will understand this once the Republicans start their reign of revenge on their political enemies.

Expand full comment

Some hacker should do something to the Univision signal during the interview's scheduled time.

Expand full comment

Karen, I like where you're going with this, but they'll just reschedule as many times as they need to.

Expand full comment

Then I hope it will be a group of hackers that can as relentless as those KPop kids. 😁

Expand full comment

Sounds good to me!

Expand full comment

You didn't mention the fact that the Mexican owner of Televisa is a far right conservative who was instrumental in making the last conservative president of Mexico. So Kushner didn't have to make much of an argument since it was a meeting of "birds of a feather flocking together." We have to understand that our domestic enemy is well-connected to the international fascist movement.

Expand full comment

I feel compelled to write a second comment. When I was still working, I attended a presentation about immigration impacts, issues, and options; it was a learning session and was not meant to do anything other than educate. It was put on by HR and many of the presenters were fellow employees. The biggest takeaway for me was the animosity of many naturalized citizens present towards those who try to avoid the legal process to enter and remain in the country. I expected some sympathy and/or empathy; there was none. Surprised me.

Expand full comment

Bad yes. Just remember we have been winning even in red districts. Getting our side to the polls is the deal.

Expand full comment

Chef Jose Andres asked Univisión directly what they thought they were doing

https://twitter.com/chefjoseandres/status/1724563516240130206?t=oQanI9AlRBbk0fPbF0m-yg&s=19

I think everyone here is familiar with Chef Jose's life work

https://twitter.com/chefjoseandres/status/1724622397062676843?t=ahmsI4ljbM88hKpNDr3Fpw&s=19

Expand full comment

Jose's comment is remarkable to say the least

Expand full comment